private life

British

noun

the social or family life or personal relationships of an individual, esp of a person in the public eye, such as a politician or celebrity

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In government, business and private life, who hasn’t noticed how frequently choices are influenced by an incentive not to be aware of inconvenient truths?

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

The dark side of his personality took the lead in his private life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Because there’s almost nothing in Doyle’s stories about Holmes’ early or private life, the pastiche-maker has a virtually blank canvas to work upon.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

The veteran Labour politician appears to have valued his wealthy friend's advice and support, on his political career as well as his private life.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

They pretend that there is no difference between public and private life.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023